U.S. Women’s National Team Brandi Chastain Quote:
Brandi Chastain Quote: “You have to be brave enough to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is not weakness. It’s an opportunity for high reward.” said U.S. Women’s National Team World Cup Player Brandi Chastain of her reaction to her game-winning goal versus China in the 1999 Women’s World Cup final. The women’s soccer quote speaks volumes to all.
1999 Women’s Soccer Backstory
Chastain scored the game-winning penalty kick, defeating China, 5-4, in the 1999 Women’s World Cup final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, in front of 90,125 fans. The game officially became the largest crowd ever to watch women’s soccer. Approximately 40 million Americans watched at least part of the televised game.
At that pivotal moment, when Chastain struck the ball for the penalty, scoring the game-winning goal, it changed women’s team sports in the United States and around the world. Viewers worldwide witnessed Chastain removing her jersey, twirling it around in the electric atmosphere, and falling to her knees, striking her arms in air triumphantly. The resulting image was one of the most iconic photographs ever taken of a female athlete.
1999 Women’s World Cup Video: 20 Years Later
For more on the story, read Jere Longman’s story on that moment in U.S. soccer history.